Threat Assessment

Services or designee may suspend the student for up to ten College business days. The matter may be moved directly to a Student Due Process Hearing or referred to a Threat Assessment Team for review. 2. Outcome of Administrative Conference: a. If the student admits responsibility for a violation(s) of the Code of Student Conduct and accepts sanctions administered during the Administrative Conference process, then the matter will be considered closed. b. If the student denies responsibility for any offense, and/or disagrees with the administered sanctions, then the matter will move to a Student Due Process Hearing which will be conducted by the Vice President of Student Services or designee or by members of the College’s Behavioral Intervention Team (CARE Team). 3. If the student fails to attend the scheduled conference, then the matter will be moved to a Student Due Process Hearing.

Students have a right to a Student Due Process Hearing:

1. The hearing will be scheduled as soon as practical after receipt of an incident report of allegations deemed to be egregious in nature or after the conclusion of the Administrative Conference. 2. Prior to the hearing, the student has the right to review all evidence, including written statements made against him or her. Strict rules of evidence do not apply in the hearing. 3. A written hearing notice including the date, time, and location of the hearing will be sent to the student. 4. At the hearing, all parties involved in the incident will be given the opportunity to provide evidence. All pertinent parties have a right to speak and be questioned by the hearing chair. Cross-examination between parties is not permitted during the hearing. 5. The student is allowed to be accompanied by a person of your choosing. This person may not present on behalf of the student unless otherwise instructed to do so by the designated hearing chair. If the student chooses to have an attorney, the student must provide notification to the Office of the Vice President for Student Services at least three College business days prior to the hearing date. In this case, the College Attorney will be present also. 6. The student has a right to a recording of the hearing. 7. The student has a right to a written notice of the hearing outcome. 8. The decision of the hearing officer or CARE Team is final.

Threat Assessment

Overview

A-B Tech is committed to providing a safe learning and working environment. As such, the College utilizes a threat assessment process to determine whether or not a student’s behavior constitutes a potential safety risk to the individual or others. Matters that rise to the level of a potential threat will be handled solely under the Threat Assessment Policy. If the potential violation of this procedure includes other behaviors or conduct that may also violate the Code of Student Conduct (Policy #804), the violations will also be handled through this procedure.

Introduction

A threat assessment is an objective process relying on a review of behaviors or conduct to identify potentially harmful, dangerous, or violent situations and to identify possible solutions. A threat is defined as any communication or behavior that suggests to a reasonable person that an individual may intend to harm him or herself or others. The threat may be spoken, written, or gestured and is considered a threat regardless of whether it is observed by or communicated to a third party. Examples of prohibited conduct that may rise to the level of a threat assessment include, but are not limited to: • Injuring another person physically including assault; • Engaging in behavior that creates a reasonable fear of injury to oneself or others including bullying and/or disorderly conduct; • Engaging in behavior that would subject a reasonable person to, and does subject another individual or individuals to, extreme emotional distress; • Possessing, brandishing, or using a weapon while on College premises by students except where possession is a result of participation in an organized and scheduled exercise for a course, or where the student is a law enforcement professional; • Intentionally damaging property; • Threatening to injure an individual (including oneself) or to damage property; and • Retaliating against any employee, student or community member who, in good faith, reports a violation of College policy. In situations where a student may pose a threat to him or herself, the individual may be directed to Student Support Services. However, if the potential threat to him or herself includes other behavior or conduct that may also violate the Code of Student Conduct (Policy #804), the violation will be handled through this process. There are many behaviors that may cause concern for the safety and well-being of an individual or the campus as a whole. The following is not an exhaustive list but provides examples of concerning behaviors or situations: • Unusual or abrupt changes in behaviors or patterns; • Extreme emotional reaction to a loss, traumatic event or situation; • Preoccupation with weapons, violent events or persons who have engaged in violent acts; • References to harming others or planning a violent or destructive event; • Prolonged irritability, angry outbursts or inordinate reactions to situations; • Strained interpersonal relations, isolating behaviors and/or hopelessness; • Stalking others, either in person or electronically; • Past history of disciplinary problems and issues; and • Verbal or physical altercation with another student, faculty, staff, or community member. These examples of potentially threatening behaviors are not intended to operate as speech codes, promote content and viewpoint discrimination or suppress minority viewpoints in the academic setting. While a student’s speech or expression may be deemed offensive by others, 112 • 2022-2023 Student Handbook and Calendar

it does not necessarily mean it constitutes a threat under this Policy.

Reporting Potential Threats

Anyone who believes that the immediate safety and well-being of an individual or the campus as a whole are at risk should notify the A-B Tech Police Department or call 911. The A-B Tech Police Department is located across from the parking deck in the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center and can be reached by phone at (828) 398-7125. A-B Tech Police officers are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. To reach the on-duty officer, please call (828) 279-3166. The A-B Tech Police will forward the report to the Vice President for Student Services (VPSS) or designee and will work in partnership to determine the best course of action. Individuals may also make a report to the Office of the VPSS by submitting an incident report at abtech.edu/incidentreport. While anonymous reports are accepted, it is important that individuals making reports share as much information as possible. The College will make every reasonable effort to preserve the confidentiality of those reporting threatening behaviors. However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in the process.

Retaliation

Retaliation against any person in connection with a report of a threat is strictly prohibited. Reports of retaliation will be addressed through this policy and/or other applicable College policies. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, punitive actions from an authority figure or peers, reprisal (acts of vengeance) or harassment. Retaliation is a serious violation and should be reported immediately. The College will take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone found to have retaliated against another.

Standard of Evidence

The College uses the preponderance of the evidence as the standard for proof of whether a violation occurred. In the threat assessment process, legal terms like “guilt, “innocence” and “burdens of proof” are not applicable. Student Hearing outcomes take into account the totality of all evidence available from all relevant sources. The College will find the Student either “responsible” or “not responsible” for violating College this policy.

Threat Assessment Process

After the VPSS or designee reviews the initial report and determines that it warrants further review, a Threat Assessment Team (Team) will be assembled. Interim measures shall only be used when necessary to protect the student’s emotional and physical health and to protect the safety of the campus community. When interim measures are implemented, every effort will be made to expedite the assessment process. Interim measures may include, but are not limited to, changing the student’s academic environment or temporary suspension through the investigation and hearing process. Suspensions can only be imposed by the VPSS or the President. A Team will be comprised of no less than four members of the College’s Behavioral Intervention Team (CARE Team) in an effort to ensure an efficient and equitable assessment. The VPSS or designee may at his or her discretion include additional members to the Team. If a conflict or appearance of conflict arises for any member of the Team, the VPSS or designee shall appoint a substitute for that member.

The VPSS or designee will serve as chair and provide the Team with the following information: • The original report or A-B Tech Police incident report; • Any witness statements and/or any other supporting documentation; • Any previous disciplinary issues relevant to the threat; and • Any additional relevant information that would be useful to the Team. The role of the Team is to review the alleged threat and evaluate the alleged student’s behavior/conduct in light of the accumulated evidence in order to determine if a violation of College policy has occurred and whether or not the student constitutes a threat. The VPSS or designee will provide a written notification to the student explaining that a Team has been assembled and is evaluating the possible threat. This notification will also include the date and time of the Threat Assessment Hearing. Prior to the hearing, the student has the right to review all evidence, including written statements. Strict rules of evidence do not apply in the hearing. If the student is not able to attend, reasonable modifications to the date will be made. However, if the student chooses not to attend the scheduled hearing, the hearing will proceed as planned utilizing the evidence available. During the hearing, the Team will have full investigatory authority when reviewing the alleged threat and evaluating the student’s behavior or conduct. The Team will interview or review statements from the student, witnesses, and other relevant parties involved in the incident. All pertinent parties have a right to speak and be questioned by the Team during the hearing. Direct cross-examination between parties takes place in a modified format. The student has the right to pose questions of those providing evidence through the Team chair. The Team has the right to inspect the student’s school record and may request that the student provide secondary and post-secondary school records. The Team may also request that the student provide additional information such as medical records. The student is allowed to be accompanied by an advocate. The role of the advocate is to provide support to the student and not to speak on behalf of the student unless invited to do so by the chair. If the student chooses to have an advocate, the student must provide the name and role of the advocate to the VPSS at least three College business days prior to the hearing date.

Threat Assessment Finding

The student has a right to a written notice of the hearing outcome. The hearing outcome will determine if the student is in violation of this procedure and the Code of Student Conduct (Policy #804), and if any sanctions should be imposed. Possible sanctions may include: • Warning; • Probation; • Administrative withdrawal from the Academic Program or course without refund; • Required counseling; • No contact directive; • Suspension from the College without refund; • Expulsion with automatic appeal to the President; and • Other sanctions deemed appropriate